Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, (sculpture).

Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, (sculpture).

Jaegers, Albert, 1865-1925, sculptor.

Gilbert, Cass, 1858-1934, architect.

Johnson, T. R., architect.

Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, (sculpture).

General von Steuben Monument, (sculpture).

Baron von Steuben, (sculpture).

Cast Sept. 1909-1910. Dedicated Dec. 7, 1910.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: pink granite.

Sculpture: approx. 10 x 5 x 5 ft.; Base: approx. 15 x 20 x 20 ft.

(Base, southeast side:) Albert Jaegers, sculptor (Base, front in raised letters:) ERECTED.BY.THE.CONGRESS/OF.THE.VNITED.STATES. TO/FREDERICK.WILLIAM.AVGVSTVS.HENRY.FERDINAND/BARON.VON.STEVBEN/IN.GRATEFVL .RECOGNITION .OF.HIS/SERVICES/TO/THE/AMERICAN.PEOPLE/IN.THEIR.STRVGGLE.FOR.LIBERTY/BORN.IN PRVSSIA/SEPTEMBER 17, 1730/DIED.IN.NEW.YORK./NOVEMBER 28, 1794/AFTER.SERVING.AS AIDE./DE.CAMP.TO.FREDERICK/THE.GREAT.OF PRVSSIA/HE.OFFERED.HIS.SWORD/TO.THE.AMERICAN.COLONIES.AND WAS APPOINT/ED.MAJOR.GENERAL AND/INSPECTOR GENERAL IN/THE CONTINENTAL ARMY/HE GAVE MILITARY.TRAIN-/ING.AND.DISCIPLINE.TO/THE.CITIZEN.SOLDIERS/WHO.ACHIEVED.THE.IN-/DEPENDENCE.OF.THE/VNITED.STATES. ./M.C.M.X (Base, rear in raised letters:) COLONEL.WILLIAM.NORTH/.MAJOR.BENJAMIN.WALKER/.AIDES.AND.FRIENDS/OF.GENERA.VON.STEVBEN (Base, beneath two male figures:) MILITARY INSTRUCTION (Base, beneath female figure and youth:) COMMEMORATION signed

Standing portrait of von Steuben looking out into the distance as he inspects his troops in 1778. He is dressed in a U.S. Continental Army uniform consisting of a long buttoned vest with sash, tall boots, a three-cornered hat, and a long cape draped around his shoulders. His proper left hand concealed by his cape is at his waist. The sculpture is installed atop a square tiered base adorned with bronze figure groups on the right and left sides and ornamental reliefs on the front and back sides. On the front of the base, a relief of an American eagle appears at the top of a inscription made of bronze letters. On the back of the base is a plaque with profile reliefs of the heads of von Steuben's aides-de-camp, Colonel William North and Major Benjamin Walker.

On the northeast side of the base are two male figures who symbolize Military Instruction. One is a seated Native American wearing only a helmet as he instructs a nude youth standing in front of him on how to use the sword which he holds in his proper right hand. On the southwest side of the base are two figure who symbolize Commemoration. One is a seated nude female figure wearing only sandals and a robe draped across her lap. Behind her on her proper left is a tree which symbolizes American National life and in front of her is a nude youth kneeling under the tree. The female figure and the youth hold a ribbon which they tie to the tree in an attempt to graft the foreign stock represented by von Steuben to the American tree of life.

Portrait male -- Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm, Baron von -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Major General

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

History -- United States -- Revolution

Ethnic -- Prussian

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Education

Object -- Weapon -- Sword

Allegory -- Other -- Memory

Allegory -- Place -- America

Landscape -- Tree

Animal -- Bird -- Eagle

Portrait male -- Walker, Benjamin -- Head

Portrait male -- North, William -- Head

Occupation -- Military -- Aide-de-Camp

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

Administered by United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, District of Columbia

Located Lafayette Square, Pennsylvania Avenue between Jackson Place & Madison Place, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia

Cost of the memorial was $50,000. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (1790-1794) came to Valley Forge in February 23, 1778 advised by Benjamin Franklin that he train American soldiers in the Prussian military techniques he learned as aide-de-camp to Frederick the Great during the Seven Years' War. Although he did not speak English, he was rapidly able to convey his military knowledge to transform American soldiers into forces able to match the British. He became an American citizen after he was discharged from the U.S. army in 1784 and was granted land in Mohawk County, New York. At his death his land went to his former aides-de-camp, William North and Benjamin Walker. A replica of this sculpture was given the Emperor of Germany to thank him for a gift to the U.S. of a statue of Frederick the Great.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1993.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 380.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, DC0013, DC0069, 1989.

Monumental News, July 1908, pg. 514; Nov. 1910, pg. 808.

Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, J-16.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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